Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-07-26
TUESDAY,, JULY 26, 1887.
Our Vineyards.

At no period IN the history OF WIZ
culture in Southern California has
this important industry appeared
more promising : than at the pres
ent time. The demand for Cali
fornia vintages in the consumptive
markets of the country has been in
creasing for some years past. At the
moment, sound, mature wines are ex-
ceedingly hard to find. The State is
almost bare, even OF the products of
the grape crop of one year ago.
The natural effect of this condition
of the market is noted in material
advance in the prices offered for good
wines. Those who have held their
vintages up to the present time have
made as large percentage of profit as
the Los Angeles real estate operators
did out of their best deals.
The latest reports from the various
parts of the State north of Fresno in
dictate that the crop OF grapes now on
the vines is decidedly below the aver
age. As rule the result does not
promise to be much above a full half
cop. The vintage to be pressed next
fill will be far less than that of year
ago. Under these circumstances the
prices for sound wines are certain to
b. fu lily maintained.
Now, while the growing crop in the
northern counties is far below normal
in quantity, with us the case is re-
versed. Seldom have the vines of
Southern California proved more pro-
life than the present year. This ex-
cellent condition of our vineyards is
univ ersal, 80 far as we have any def
mite Information from this end of the
State. Here, about Los Angeles, the
vines are loaded with superabund-
ance of punches, and the berries are
rap idly filling out in most promising
manner. Portions of this section
VIII ich a year ago were undergoing a
set back in viticulture by reason OF
som lack of vigor in the vines, this
re ason report the plants in most
vi gorous state of growth and with
exec llent crop prospects.
Some of the Oldest vineyards in cer-
tain parts of the county are being neg
lected to such an extent that they are
going rapidly to decay. This is, how
ever, strictly confined to the more
rapidly increasing centers Of popula-
tion, where city growth is forcing such
pursuits to the wall. Elsewhere the
yignerons are observed to be paying
more than usual attention to their
vineyards, and never have the various
parts of the county been seen in bet
ter state of filth, with fewer weeds to
sap the moisture from the soil. In all
quarters little investigation will re-
veal the fact noted above, that the
show of grapes on the canes is of un-
usual abundance, and, 20 far as devel-
oped, of excellent quality.
lbs Angeles county has heretofore
produced nearly a full moiety of the
wines of the State. Until recent
years she produced much larger
proportion of them. This season her
output will probably equal that of all
the rest of the State, wines and BRAN
dies being both considered.
Up to this time no price has been
fixed for the grapes of various kinds
in the sew eral sections of the county.
But it is a certain matter that a
market will open at paying prices for
all the good grapes to be had. Where
this may be found not to be the case,
ii will be found to be because of lack
of wineries to handle the crop. Prices,
the vignerons expect to range at $l5
10 $40 per ton. Some varieties
may bring Il little more.
Were there plenty of wineries
in all parts Of the county good varie-
ties would easily command the high
est figures. At that price for grapes a
vineyard is a better money producer
than q bank. We have inspected
f0ur-year old vineyards of the Zinfan-
del vari ETY. which certainly have six
10 eight tons Of grapes to the acre on
the vines. 1t is hard to beat $l20 to
$40 per acre for a crop. Unknowing
people wonder why the owners OF such
property should hold it at $500 per
acre. The fact is such vineyards are
intrinsically worth $1,000 an acre, Ii
the crop is sold to the winners the
land will pay good interest on that
price after defraying the expenses Of
the year in caring for the vines.
But this brings us to a phase OF this
industry which must be wrought out
in the near future. Vine-growers must
learn to make their own wines. This
Il the rule in Europe, and its adoption
here is only matter Of time. When
ll,e grapes are sold to the vint-